On August 8, President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
received the president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Jin Liqun,
who is in our country on a working visit.

The head of our state sincerely
congratulated the guest on the successful start of the bank’s operation – a new
international financial institution designed to promote formation of modern and
reliable infrastructure in the Asian continent.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank, established in 2015 with headquarters in Beijing is actively
participating in financing 17 investment projects in various countries of the
world.

In November of the last year, our
country implemented domestic procedures within the framework of the adopted
articles of the Agreement on establishment of the bank, becoming a full member
of this international organization.

At the meeting, issues of developing
mutually beneficial cooperation on implementation of promising projects in the
Republic of Uzbekistan – on modernization of water management facilities,
development of energy infrastructure, construction of modern automobile roads,
electrification of railways, expansion of the capital metro network and others
with a total cost of 2,7 billion dollars, were discussed.

Opportunities for cooperation in
creating a mechanism of attracting private direct investment to the
implementation of joint projects were emphasized.

President of the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank Jin Liqun expressed his sincere gratitude to the
President of our country Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the warm welcome and support
for the development of a mutually beneficial partnership. He emphasized the
bank’s readiness for long-term and full-scale cooperation with Uzbekistan.

The second Sunday of August in Uzbekistan was announced as the Day of
Construction Workers.

On 7 August 2017, President of
Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree “On celebrating the day of
construction workers of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

“To announce starting from 2017 the
second Sunday of August as the Day of workers in the sphere of construction of
the Republic of Uzbekistan,” the presidential decree said.

The decree noted that 23,800
contract organizations, 31 head design institutes and about 1,000 design
organizations carry out their activity for realization of construction and
creative works in Uzbekistan.

In addition, three architectural and
construction institutes are engaged in training of qualified personnel for
construction industry, training of specialists for construction industry is
carried out in 12 higher educational institutions and 390 professional
colleges.

In 2017, construction work for 37.5
trillion soums was carried out for all sources at the expense of all sources,
as a result of which the total volume amounted to 120.5 percent as compared to
the previous year. As a result, this year 15,000 affordable standard
residential buildings, 191 multi-storey residential buildings and 2,500 social
facilities will be put into operation (currency
rates of CB RU from 01.08.2017, 1$= 4126.45 soums).

In the first half of 2017, JSC "Uzkimyosanoat" produced
commodity output in current prices in the amount of 1155 billion soums,
consumer goods amounted to 61.4 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 01.08.2017,
1$= 4126.45 soums).

The production of mineral
fertilizers for the period amounted to 523.7 thousand tons (100% nutrient).

The production of mineral
fertilizers for the period amounted to 523.7 thousand tons (100% nutrient),
including:

- nitric fertilizers – 393.48
thousand tons;

- phosphate fertilizers – 58.48
thousand tons;

- potash – 71.74 thousand tons.

Forecast of export of products was
made by 153%.

According to the Program of
localization, products worth 11.9 billion soums were produced in January-March
2017.

In the framework of implementation
of investment projects included in the Investment program, JSC
"Uzkimyosanoat" utilised $130.6 of investments.

On August 11, 2017, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with participation of the
Informational and Analytical Center for International Relations, the UNDP
Representative Office and the Office of the OSCE Project Coordinator, is
holding an International conference on theme “Central Asia – the main priority
of the foreign policy of Uzbekistan”

According to the organizers, it is planned to inform the general public
about the essence and content of the current regional policy of the Republic of
Uzbekistan aimed at strengthening the friendly and good-neighbor relations with
contiguous countries, as well as the positions and approaches of Uzbekistan on
key issues of ensuring security and sustainable development in the Central
Asian region in the Forum.

The Deputies of the Oliy Majlis, the experts and analysts from the
Central Asia, the Diplomatic Corps in Tashkent, the ambassadors of Uzbekistan
in neighbor countries, representatives of ministries and agencies, the
scientific and analytical centers of Uzbekistan, as well as journalists will
participate in the event.

Public attention of Uzbekistan was
focused on the development of higher education, the priority areas of which
were defined in the President's Decree "On measures to further expand the
participation of industries and economic sectors in improving the quality for
training of specialists with higher education". The most active discussion
received three positions.

In English

Beginning with the new academic year, the educational process includes a
phased study of profile subjects in English in at least two academic groups of
all courses.

In this regard, the targeted preparation of faculty for teaching in
English begins. The corresponding training of teachers abroad, as well as the
involvement of foreign specialists in the conduct of training sessions will be
organized.

In accordance with the resolution on the organization of training,
internships and training of fellows abroad, due to the funds of sponsors and
grants of international organizations, as well as the Fund of the President of
the Republic of Uzbekistan "Istedod", a mechanism was established for
organizing internships for prospective scientific and pedagogical personnel,
first of all, technical and architectural directions of education in developed
countries.

Integration of Education and Science

Deepening the integration of production, science and education, boosting
the scientific potential of higher education institutions, training young
scientists and researchers are also assigned as priority areas for the
development of higher education.

Beginning with the current academic year, it is planned to take specific
measures to systematically organize the qualification practice of students in
the relevant areas of education in certain organizations and enterprises of the
industry, conduct specific practical classes directly at the workplace, and
employ the graduates.

As noted in the resolution, meeting of the heads of the complex,
relevant ministries and departments with the faculty and students of the
universities assigned to them to determine the long-term objectives of
enhancing the content of education at least once a month, is one of the most
essential factors for improving the educational process.

In the social sphere, it is envisaged to create ample opportunities for
young scientists, job seekers and doctoral students, and financial stimulation
of innovators and inventors.

Special attention was placed on the betterment of the national system of
annual ranking of higher educational institutions where the main indicators are
the demand for graduates of higher educational institutions on the labor market
and the effectiveness of introducing the results of scientific research works
of the teaching staff into practice.

Taking into account these indicators, it is envisaged the provision of
higher educational institutions with academic autonomy in the development and
approval of certain regulatory legal documents of the educational process.

Social Status of Teacher

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic was instructed to adopt a
government resolution within two months providing for the creation of material
conditions for the implementation of scientific research works by doctoral
students, their material incentives in the amount of up to 50% of monthly
scholarships at the expense of production enterprises and organizations,
employment of graduates of doctoral studies in higher educational institutions
and scientific- research institutes, introduction of mechanisms for the
allocation of a preferential mortgage loan for a period of 25 years from their
second year of basic doctoral studies.

The relevant ministries and departments are charged to prepare and
submit proposals to raise the social status of the educational institutions’
teaching staff to the Cabinet of Ministers in three months.

This set of measures will include the allocation of preferential
mortgage and consumer loans for the purchase of housing, a domestic car and
household appliances.

Moreover, the availability of awards of various competitions, the
results of pupils and students at national and international Olympiads,
competitions

The next, the 88th theatrical
season, the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theater will open in a new, not
usual for the country format, but popular in the world - OPEN AIR.

Representatives of the organizing committee told journalists about this
in the press conference. The organizers of the new format show are the Alisher
Navoi State Academic Grand Theater and the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan
with the support of TOP Congress Company.

The project unique for the theatrical art of Uzbekistan will be launched
with the symphonic OPEN AIR, designed to revive the spectator’s love for
classical music, opera and ballet. Masterpieces of world classics will be
presented.

The Grand Theater invites friends to the enchanting, amazing world of
classical music in an entirely new format.

True connoisseurs of classics will enjoy two musical evenings on
September 9 and 10 under the open air on the square in front of the theater.
This event is intended to unite them into a single community and launch across
the country a wave of similar cultural events.

Symphonic OPEN AIR is a unique flow in the concert culture. Musical
events of this format are the most memorable shows of world famous festivals in
Edinburgh, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo and Rome.

According to the organizers, the classics will be in trend again with
this project. A series of events and the company’s future work is focused on
the creation of cultural trends and the revival of traditional arts.

This, of course, will significantly expand the horizons of Uzbekistan’s
image; will give an opportunity to declare new facets of the national art.

Theater director Andrei Slonim, music director and conductor Bobomurod
Khudoykulov told what to expect from the new trend in the calendar of opera and
ballet events in Uzbekistan.

The refined program of each of the evenings will include masterpieces of
world classics, original compositions of national classical music of different
countries, and charming ballets of the Grand Theater.

Distinctive environment, a decorated panorama of the theater square, an
exquisite program and a light fleur of classic luxury are awaiting the
symphonic music fans this day right on the square at the Grand Theater.

At the opening of the new season the soloists and ballet troupes of the
Grand Theater will present compositions of the recognized world classics - from
the waltz of Strauss and adagio of Tchaikovsky to the contemporary works of
Andrea Bocelli and national arias from the Uzbek classical opera.

The audience for the whole evening will enjoy the performance of the
Alisher Navoi Symphonic Orchestra conducted by the virtuoso Bobomurod
Khudoykulov.

In general, the Grand Theater begins a new chapter in its history, and
everyone who becomes part of this project will be the inspiration and creator
of a cultural event of the national scale.

The organizers promise to tell soon more details about how the event
will take place and why the capital residents and guests proposed to get
involved in this unique theatrical performance, in the live stories of the
heroes of the evening, soloists and troupe of the Grand Theater.